Dispenser



June 26', 1945.

Original Filed May 2, 1940 6 6 E .1 3 La l m n lllllllll ll l u r 2 Fl iwfinnnunnwu'll 2 2 a '8 .l 4 2 w w m w m INVENTOR SHERI AN c. WAITE @mu,awv,mvawi.

ATTORNEYS Patented June 26, 1945 DISPENSER Sheridan 0. Waite, Buffalo, Y., assignor 'to Ralph B. Waite, Springville, .N. Y.

Original application May 2, 1940', Serial No.

Divided and this application August s, 1943, Serial No. 497,462

2 Claims.

This invention is a division of my application Serial No. 333,001, filed May 2, 1940, resulting in issuance of U. S. Patent 2,334,851, and relates to improvements in containersand dispensing devices, and more particularly pertains to dispensinr, containers and closures for containers of pastes and creams and powdered materials such as dentifrices, shaving cream, and the like.

One of the objects of the invention is'to provide a device of the character described that will provide improved conveniences for the user. Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the'kind described that is adaptedto preserve the contents thereof in an improved manner. Another object is to provide a device of the character described in aform of utmost structural simplicity and ruggedness so as to be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and 001- proof inuse. Other objects and advantages .of the invention will appear from the specification herein.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary enlarged. section view through a portion of a dispensing tube of the collapsible type with a closure. element thereof in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the closure element in open dispensing position;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of another form of closure element of the invention; and

Fig. 4- is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line IVIV of Fig. 3.

The invention is adapted to be used in conjunction with various kinds of material containers and is illustrated herein as being applied in connection with a compressible tubular material container l0 which is generally of a style nowin use for holding tooth pastes, shaving creams, and the like. However, the dispensing end of the tube ID is specially formed to include a dispensing conduit in the form of a reduced cylindrical throat l2 having a'smooth circular inner bore terminating in a closed wall or. membrane l4 which functions to originally seal the dispensing end of the tube; the membrane l4 being formed as an integral part of the tube In during the manufacture thereof. Thus, the filling of the tube in with paste orcream or powder or the like is effected through the lower end thereof in accord with presently standard tube filling practices, following which the lower end of the tube is permanently closed by means of a clamp H6 or some other suitable means.

- The dispensing control. device of the Invention comprises. generally .a hollow cylindrical plunger 20 which'is closed at itsouterend and beveled at its inner end, as at 22; thus forming an annular membrane-cutting edge which is'led by a point 24. The main body portion'of the plunger 20 'is of straight cylindrical wall form and so dimensioned as to slidably fit within the throat l2- of the tube in closely fitting'relation therein.

' The outer end of the plunger 20 beyond the region of the bore thereof is enlarged relative to the main body portion thereof in a smooth =outwardly'fiaring manner as at 25 so as to provide a wedging action in cooperation with the'outer edge portion of the throat I2 when pressed thereinto, as shown.

in Fig. 1-.

An ejection port 26 is formed in a side wall portion of the body of the plunger 20 and in communication with the central bore thereof for dispensing the contents of the tube when the plunger 20 is moved outwardly therefrom 'asto the position shown in Fig. 2, at which time the tube I!) may be compressed to force the contents thereof through the plunger bore and thence 'out' of the port 26 where it may be conveniently applied to a brush or to the fingers of the user.

To retain the plunger 20in operative position in the tube I0 an internal stop device is provided in the form of a spring 30 formed of bent wire or the like. The spring 30 comprises a pair of opposed arm portions 32, an intermediate spacing portion 33, and a laterally-extendingendportion at the free end of one of the arm portions.

An opening 3 5 is provided through a side wall portion of the plunger 20 to receive the finger 34 therein; the finger 34 being of such length'as to normally extend outwardly beyond the wall of the plunger so as to provide a stop element plunger 20 may be partially withdrawnfrom the throat l2. to the position shown in Fig. 2 prior to engagementof the stop finger 34 with the shoulder 36. Thus, when the closure is in this position the contents of the tube may be dispensed through the port 26, and the stop finger 34- will prevent the closure from being further removed and/or accidentally displaced from mounted engagement within the throat I2. Between 'dispensing operations the plunger 20 may be manually pressed inwardly of the tube to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 wherein the throat l2 covers the port 26 of the plunger 20 and the plunger is wedgingly engaged within the outer end of the throat i2 so as to provide a snug seal therebetween. ,The wedging of the plunger in thethroat gree of frictional engagement therebetween to prevent subsequent unintended movement of the plunger out of non-dispensing position. However, the grip between the throat and the plunger is such that it may be readily overcome upon application of manual pulling forces upon the plunger, and it will be noted that in this connection the outwardly flaring end of-the plunger provides a convenient means for gripping with the fingers for this purpose.

Thus, it will be seen that acombination con tainer and dispensing closure therefor has been provided in such manner that the contents of the container are at all times kept hermetically sealed therein and wherein the dispensing port of the device is normally covered and withdrawn. from exposure to the outside atmosphere in such manner that the material occupying the dispensing port is not subjected to drying. The

dispensing control element of the device is of such character as to be easily manipulated manually toopen and closed positions with. a minimum effort andinconvenience to theuser; and

.yet the control element thereof is so arranged and formed that it will. not accidentally move from closed to opened position; nor can it become completely detached from the container discharge port after it has once been operatively connected therein. It will also be noted that the external surface portions of the structural elements of the device are perfectly smooth and pleasing in appearance and readily cleanable as by wiping them with a cloth. Because the movement of the dispensing device toward closed position. involves an initial movement of the discharge port into. covered position under the container throat the further closing operation does not operate to project the tube contents out of the discharge port.

. Prior to use of the contentsof the tube, as during transportation and storage, the plunger 20 is preferably withheld from the interior of the tube so thatthe membrane M ofthe tube l0 will continue to seal the contents of the tube until such time as the contents are to be dispensed. 'Ihus, the plunger 211 may be furnished .along with the. tube and its contentsbut in unassembled relation thereto, and the purchaser may subsequently insert the plunger into the throat I! by first pressing the finger. 34 inwardly into line with the side wall of the plunger and then: inserting the inner endof. the plunger into the threat [2. The plunger may then be-pressed against; the membrane IA, until. the cutting'point 2.4 perforates thelatter and progressively severs it from the tube wall from righttoleftas viewed in. the figures until such time as the plunger is driven completely through the throat when the membrane will have been. deflected laterally out of the path of. the plunger. asillustrated inFigs.

. limited distance only so as toavoidpiercin'gthe membrane l4. Thus; the'purch'aser will not be required tomanipulate the spring stop 34 as'during the initial inserting step, and the device will have been previously prepared for the membrane piercing operation. Therefore, the user will simply be required to press the plunger 20 more deeply into the throat to the position shown in Fig. 1, at which time the stop 34 will spring outwardly into operative position without attention by the user, and the device will then be fully prepared for dispensing use without danger of accidental displacement of the plunger from the tube.

As illustrated in the drawing, I also prefer to providea boss 50 upon the upper end of the plunger 20 for the purpose of indicating to the user the position of the dispensing port 26. The boss 50 is therefore placed at the side of the plunger adjacent the opening 26, and the user may be advised as to the location of the point of egress of the material from the dispenser by feeling for the location of the boss 50.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate another form of the plunger element of the invention wherein an integral portion of the plunger body is arranged to provide the effect of the plunger locking actionof the spring device 30 of the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1. In Figs. 3 and 4 the plunger resembles generally the plungers 20 and 30 of Fig. 1. but is partially severed as at 92 and 94 through a wall portion thereof by means of parallel cutsor slots therein. Thus there is provided an integral spring finger portion 96 which is adapted to flex due to the natural resiliency of the material of which the plunger is formed. The lower end portion of the finger. 96 is provided with a laterally projecting barb 98 whichterminates at its upper end in av shoulder disposed normal to the longitudinal axis of the plunger. Thus, the plunger of Figs. 3 and 4 is adapted to be inserted in the throat 12 of the container of Fig. 1 and pressed inwardly thereof until the membrane H thereof is severed. During the initial plunger inserting process the barb 98 will bear against the throat oninsert inner wallto cause the finger 9!, to be flexed inwardly of the plunger, but upon passage of the barb 98 beyond the inner end of the plunger carrying member the finger 94- will spring back to:- its normal position and the barb 98 will thus be moved outwardly so that the upper end. thereof will be in position to function as a stop to prevent the plunger from being withdrawn from the container, as in the manner of the finger 34 of Figs. 1' and 2.

Fig. 4 also illustratesanother form. of the material discharging passage through the plunger of the invention wherein the side wall structure thereof in the region of the discharge port HM is ofincreased thickness form. Thus, an abutment shelf I02 is providedtabaifie'the movement of'a portion of. thematerial as it passes through the lunger in such manner as to' deflect it in a direction-interesecting the direction of movement through the unbaflled portion. Also the longitudinal bore in the plunger is arranged to extend upwardly as at I04: beyond the line of the outlet port "w se as to provide a cushion chamber effect. Thus, although the passageway throughthe plunger 90 normally. provides for unrestricted movement of material from the container tothe outlet port I00; under-sudden and relatively intense pressure conditions withins the plunger such as may be produced during; movements of the plunger inwardly of: the. container toward port closing position, movement of material through theredu'ced bore ortion of: the plungeris intercepted by streams of material projected laterally and oppositely thereinto from under the shelf I02 and the upper end of the cushion chamber I04. This form of the plunger of the invention is particularly effective in preventing unintended projection of the container contents through the discharge port 00 during port closing movements of the plunger When the container contents are of the nature of creams, pastes, or the like.

Another important advantage of the construction of Fig. 4 results from the elongated form of the discharge port I which extends through-the Wall portion of increased thickness. By reason of this arrangement the conduit Hill is enabled to mold the extruding cream or paste as it passes therethrough into definite ribbon-like form, as distinguished from the operation of an orifice in a thin wall structure such as would be entirely incapable of imparting any definite formation to the cream or paste passing therethrough. In Fig. 4 boss 50 is provided at the top side portion of the plunger adjacent the port I00.

It will be apparent to' those skilled in the art that the invention is not to the precise forms illustrated in the drawing and described in detail herein but that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the inven-. tion or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A material dispensing device including a material container having a discharge opening in the form of a throat, a dispensing closure for said throat in the form of a plunger having a hollow body portion thereof slidably fitted within said throat and an adjoining tapering portion leading into an enlarged closed outer end portion, said tapering portion being adapted to be pressed into snug fitting relation with the outer end of said throat, and a'material outlet port through a side wall portion of said plunger and in open communication with the hollow interior thereof, the parts being so proportioned and arranged that in one position of sliding adjustment of said plunger said port is exposed for egress of material therethrough and in another position of sliding adjustment of said plunger said port is covered by said throat and said plunger enlarged end portion is wedged in snugly fitting material sealing relation within said throat, the hollow interior of said closure plunger being in the form of a main centrally disposed bore at the lower end thereof and a laterally offset counterbore of reduced sectional dimension in the upper portion thereof thus providing closure plunger opposed side wall portions of difierent thicknesses, said outlet port being through a side wall portion of greatest thickness thereof and intermediately of the ends of said counterbore.

2. A material dispensing device including a material container having a discharge opening in the form of a throat, a-dispensing closure for said throat in the form of a plunger having a hollow I body portion thereof slidably fitted within said throat and an adjoining tapering portion leading into an enlarged closed outer end portion, said tapering portion being adapted to be pressed into snug fitting relation with the outer end of said throat, and a material outlet port through a side Wall portion of said plunger. and in open communication with the hollow interior thereof, the parts being so proportioned and arranged that in one position of sliding adjustment of said plunger said port is exposed for egress of material therethrough and in another position of sliding adjustment of said plunger said port is covered by said throat and said plunger enlarged end portion is wedged in snugly fitting and material sealing relation within said throat, said closure plunger being so formed interiorly thereof as to provide a central dispensing material pasreduced passage.

sage and a laterally offset secondary passage of reduced size thus providing a transverse shoulder at the junction of said passages, said outlet port being through a closure wall portion above said shoulder and intermediately of the ends of said SHERIDAN C. WAITE. 

